Background

Between approximately December 1993 and September 1994, Ethicon Incorporated, the nation's leading suture manufacturer, manufactured and distributed approximately 3.6 million packages of contaminated sutures to the public through medical supply distributors, hospitals and some physicians. These contaminated sutures were then used in surgeries and other medical procedures causing serious injuries and infections.

In July of 1994, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered that Ethicon had distributed contaminated sutures across the country. The FDA threatened Ethicon with "seizure, injunction, and/or other civil penalties" if it did not correct the problem. In September of 1994, Ethicon issued a recall for the approximately 3.6 million packages of sutures. By this time, however, many of the contaminated sutures had been used in surgeries or other medical procedures. Moreover, given the nationwide scope of the recall and the number of sutures involved, not all of the contaminated sutures were recalled in a timely manner. According to the FDA, only 25% of the recalled Vicryl sutures were recovered.

The use of these contaminated sutures has caused a number of different infections and injuries. Patients from around the country (see map) have been seriously injured by the use of the contaminated sutures in their surgeries or other medical procedures. In addition to numerous individual lawsuits that have been filed against Ethicon at least five class action lawsuits have been filed, three are currently proceeding in Texas, one in North Carolina and one in the San Francisco County Superior Court. This Bulletin Board is sponsored by the law firms and class representatives involved in the foregoing cases -- see Legal Rights and Involved Counsel.

Prior lawsuits were filed in California against Ethicon, Inc. in 1996 involving allegations similar to those contained in the new cases described in this Ethicon Suture Victims Bulletin Board. These cases were settled prior to trial. Each of these lawsuits alleged damages resulting from infection caused by contaminated vicryl sutures manufactured by Ethicon and used in three separate breast augmentation surgeries performed on September 28, 1994. The complaints contained allegations of products liability; professional negligence; negligence in obtaining informed consent; and loss of consortium. (Lisa Marie Lindsey v. Ethicon, Inc. et al. Contra Costa County Case No. C95-04229; Heidi Lynn Kader et al. v. Ethicon, Inc., Alameda County Case No. 774029-1; Trina Jean Gallardo et al. v. Ethicon, Inc.; et al.; Alameda County Case No. 774028-2-1, I, Pedro vs. Friedman, M.D., Contra Costa County Case No. C9502881, Franco v. Ethicon, Inc., San Diego County Case No. 689576)

Ethicon Suture Victims Bulletin Board (ESVBB) endeavors to keep its web site current with the most up to date information possible. However, ESVBB cannot guarantee the truth or accuracy of any information and materials posted at this web site and nothing in this site constitutes a representation or warranty that such information and materials are true and correct. Before relying on any of the information on this web page, we recommend that you conduct your own inquiry or investigation to verify the information. This web site contains links to web pages that are neither owned or operated by ESVBB. ESVBB cannot guarantee the truth or accuracy of any information and materials posted at the linked sites, nor has it conducted any inquiry or investigation as to the truth or accuracy of such information. In addition, any response by ESVBB to any email to this site should not be construed as legal advice nor should it be construed that ESVBB is undertaking to represent you.

(as currently reported)

 

 

 

ARIZONA

December 1994, Scottsdale, AZ, patient underwent breast reduction surgery
July 1998, Phoenix, AZ, patient underwent hernia surgery

ARKANSAS

May 1996, Little Rock, AR, patient underwent open-heart surgery

CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

December 1993, patient underwent open-heart surgery

February 1994, patient underwent hernia surgery
April 1994, patient underwent hernia surgery
May 1994, patient underwent a breast lumpectomy
May 1994, patient underwent silicon implant removal surgery
May 1994, patient underwent pacemaker insertion surgery
June 1994, patient underwent sinus surgery
June 1994, patient underwent open-heart surgery
July 1994, two patients underwent implant surgery
July 1994, patient underwent total right knee replacement surgery
August 1994, patient underwent colectomy and related surgery
August 1994, patient underwent shoulder surgery
August 1994, patient underwent laminectomy surgery
August 1994, patient underwent decompressive laminectomy surgery
September 1994, three patients underwent breast surgery
September 1994, patient underwent foot surgery
September 1994, patient underwent femur repair surgery
October 1994, patient underwent back surgery
October 1994, patient underwent a right partial mastectomy
November 1994, patient underwent spinal surgery
November 1994, patient underwent microdiskectomy surgery
November 1994, patient underwent a hysterectomy

February 1995, patient underwent neck surgery
February 1995, surgery to remove a non-cancerous brain tumor
February 1995, patient underwent open-heart surgery
April 1995, patient underwent hysterectomy surgery
May 1995, patient underwent artery replacement surgery
June 1995, patient underwent sinus surgery
June 1995, patient underwent total right knee replacement surgery
June 1995, patient underwent an ovarian cystectomy and myomectomy
June 1995, patient underwent pacemaker replacement surgery
July 1995, patient underwent a lumbar laminectomy
July 1995, patient underwent leg surgery
August 1995, patient underwent back surgery
August 1995, patient underwent leg surgery
September 1995, patient underwent heart surgery
October 1995, patient underwent heart valve replacement surgery
November 1995, patient underwent open-heart surgery
November 1995, patient underwent open-heart surgery
December 1995, patient underwent colostomy

June 1996, patient underwent cosmetic surgery
June 1996, patient underwent back surgery
July 1996, patient underwent open-heart surgery
September 1996, patient underwent rotator cuff surgery
September 1996, patient underwent bypass surgery

February 1997, patient underwent open-heart surgery
September 1997, patient underwent an episiotomy

September 1998, patient underwent placement of a metronic pump implant

SACRAMENTO AREA

May 1994, patient underwent knee surgery
June 1994, patient underwent breast surgery
August 1994, patient underwent arm surgery
September 1994, patient underwent surgical removal of fibroid tumor
September 1994, patient underwent surgical removal of a kidney

March 1995, patient underwent open-heart surgery
August 1995, patient underwent rotator cuff surgery
October 1995, patient underwent rotator cuff surgery

CENTRAL VALLEY

March 1994, Modesto, CA, patient underwent a mastectomy
August 1994, Modesto, CA, patient underwent breast implant removal surgery

April 1995, Stockton, CA, patient underwent leg surgery

December 1996, Stockton, CA, patient underwent left colectomy surgery

LOS ANGELES AREA

December 1993, patient underwent open-heart surgery

June 1994, patient underwent breast reduction surgery
July 1994, patient underwent back surgery
September 1994, patient underwent open-heart surgery
December 1994, patient underwent surgery on achilles tendon

April 1995, patient underwent bilateral reduction mammoplasty surgery
July 1995, patient underwent a hysterectomy

December 1996, patient underwent back surgery

ORANGE COUNTY AREA

July 1994, patient underwent a laminectomy surgery
December 1994, patient underwent hernia surgery

SAN DIEGO AREA

April 1994, patient underwent a mammoplasty
June 1994, patient underwent breast surgery
November 1994, patient underwent bypass surgery
November 1994, patient underwent a cesarean section

January 1996, patient underwent ventral hernia repair surgery

OTHER AREAS

January 1994, Fresno, CA, patient underwent open-heart surgery
April 1994, Rancho Mirage, CA, patient underwent transthoracic nissen fundoplication
July 1994, Forestville, CA, patient underwent breast reduction surgery
November 1994, Eureka, CA, patient underwent bowel resection surgery

March 1995, Fairfield, CA, patient underwent wrist surgery
September 1995, Tracy, CA, patient underwent breast reduction surgery

May 1996, Salinas, CA, patient underwent lumpectomy

COLORADO

June 1994, Denver, CO, patient underwent gastric bypass surgery

CONNECTICUT

July 1995, New Haven, CT, cancer patient underwent reconstructive surgery

FLORIDA

March 1994, West Palm Beach, FL, patient underwent cranial surgery
April 1994, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, patient underwent neck surgery
July 1994, Tampa, FL, patient underwent hernia surgery
September 1994, Miami, FL, patient underwent breast surgery
September 1994, Tampa, FL, two patients underwent orthopedic surgery
December 1994, Leesburg, FL, patient underwent a hysterectomy
January 1995, Miami Beach, FL, patient underwent open-heart surgery
January 1995, Ft. Walden Beach, FL, patient underwent ankle surgery

GEORGIA

March 1994, Marietta, GA, patient underwent repair of ruptured achilles tendon
April 1994, Atlanta, GA, patient underwent brain surgery
May 1994, Atlanta, GA, patient underwent open-heart surgery
May 1994, Macon, GA, patient underwent hernia repair surgery

June 1997, Macon, GA, patient underwent knee surgery

ILLINOIS

September 1994, Chicago, IL, patient underwent breast surgery
December 1994, Chicago, IL, patient underwent an episiotomy
July 1995, Chicago, IL, patient underwent breast surgery

KANSAS

August 1994, Kansas City, KS, patient underwent neck surgery

LOUISIANA

November 1994, Lake Charles, LA, patient underwent a cesarean and tubal ligation
November 1994, Lake Charles, LA, patient underwent knee surgery

December 1995, Shreveport, LA, patient underwent a cesarean

April 1999, Lake Charles, LA, patient underwent foot surgery

MARYLAND

October 1994, Baltimore, MD, patient underwent total hip replacement surgery
November 1994, Bethesda, MD, patient underwent tubal ligation reversal

MASSACHUSETTS

February 1994, Boston, MA, patient underwent shoulder surgery
October 1994, Boston, MA, patient underwent hip surgery

MICHIGAN

June 1994, Pontiac, MI, patient underwent kidney surgery
June 1994, Holland, MI, patient underwent a cesarean
July 1994, Ann Arbor, MI, patient underwent open-heart surgery
August 1994, Ann Arbor, MI, patient underwent back surgery
August 1994, Flint, MI, patient underwent coronary artery bypass surgery

MINNESOTA

July 1995, St. Louis Park, MN, patient underwent hernia repair and ovary removal surgery

MISSOURI

June 1994, St. Louis, MO, patient underwent tubal ligation surgery
July 1994 , St. Louis, MO, patient underwent heart surgery
July 1994 , St. Louis, MO, patient underwent breast surgery
July 1994, St. Louis, MO, patient underwent a hysterectomy and abdominoplasty
August 1994 , St. Louis, MO, patient underwent abdominal surgery
October 1994, St. Louis, MO, patient underwent breast surgery
July 1995, Kansas City, MO, patient underwent knee surgery

NEBRASKA

April 1994, Omaha, NB, patient underwent an episiotomy

NEVADA

August 1994, Las Vegas, NV, patient underwent abdominal, intestinal surgery
December 1994, Reno, NV, patient underwent hernia repair surgery
August 1996, Sparks, NV, patient underwent finger surgery

NEW JERSEY

July 1994, Elizabeth, NJ, patient underwent ankle surgery
July 1994, Franklin Park, NJ, removal of lump on chest wall
August 1994, Swedeboro, NJ, patient underwent hernia surgery
September 1994, Neptune, NJ, Lyme patient underwent a catheter operation
October 1994, Fanwood, NJ, patient underwent bunyonectomy
October 1994, Neptune, NJ, Lyme patient underwent a catheter operation
October 1994, Raritan, NJ, patient underwent shoulder surgery

October 1998, Long Branch, NJ, patient underwent a mammoplasty

NEW YORK

September 1994, Bronx, NY, patient underwent open-heart surgery
November 1994, Geneva, NY, patient underwent surgery for a stomach ulcer
February 1995, New York, NY, patient underwent open-heart surgery
March 1996, Bronx, NY, patient underwent back surgery
April 1996, Syracuse, NY, patient underwent shoulder surgery

NORTH DAKOTA

March 1994, Bismarck, ND, patient underwent thrombosis surgery

OHIO

June 1994, Cincinnati, OH, patient underwent right shoulder surgery
July 1994, Cincinnati, OH, patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy
November 1994, Dayton, OH, patient underwent open-heart surgery

OKLAHOMA

March 1994, Bartlesville, OK, patient underwent a caesarean
October 1994, Oklahoma City, OK, patient underwent open-heart surgery

January 1996, Tulsa, OK, patient underwent a mastectom

OREGON

October 1994, Corvallis, OR, patient underwent a hysterectomy

PENNSYLVANIA

April 1994, Philadelphia, PA, patient underwent a mastectomy
June 1994, Riddle, PA, patient underwent a bilateral mastectomy
July 1994, Pennsylvania, PA, patient underwent breast reduction surgery
August 1994, Erie, PA, patient underwent a cesarean
September 1994, Philadelphia, PA, patient underwent breast surgery
October 1994, Bryn Mawr, PA, patient underwent a microdiskectomy
January 1995, Harrisburg, PA, patient underwent a hysterectomy
October 1995, Lancaster, PA, patient underwent open-heart surgery
March 1997, Elkins Park, PA, patient underwent a laminectomy

SOUTH CAROLINA

August 1994, Rockhill, SC, patient underwent hernia surgery

TENNESSEE

July 1994, Kingsport, TN, patient underwent uterine suspension surgery

TEXAS

May 1994, Houston, TX, patient underwent neck surgery
May 1994, Port Arthur, TX, patient underwent rotator cuff repair surgery
June 1994, Houston, TX, patient underwent open-heart surgery
July 1994, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent a hysterectomy
July 1994, Dallas, TX, patient underwent a laparotomy
August 1994, Houston, TX, patient underwent neck surgery
September 1994, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent open-heart surgery
November 1994, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent knee surgery
December 1994, Houston, TX, patient underwent vein surgery
December 1994, Port Arthur, TX, patient underwent colon surgery
January 1995, Dallas, TX, patient underwent open-heart surgery
January 1995, Harlingen, TX, patient underwent a cesarean
February 1995, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent insertion of prosthesis
March 1995, Houston, TX, patient underwent knee surgery
May 1995, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent surgery for prostate cancer
July 1995, Houston, TX, patient underwent spleenectomy
July 1995, Tyler, TX, patient underwent open-heart surgery
September 1995, Houston, TX, patient underwent surgery for femoral fracture
September 1995, Houston, TX, patient underwent surgery for spinal fusion
December 1995, Houston, TX, patient underwent breast surgery
December 1995, Galveston, TX, patient underwent surgery for removal of an ovarian tumor
August 1996, Port Arthur, TX, patient underwent a cesarean
August 1996, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent a laminectomy
September 1996, Houston, TX, patient underwent foot surgery
September 1996, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent knee replacement surgery
November 1996, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent foot surgery
December 1996, Houston, TX, patient underwent a mastectomy
April 1997, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent insertion of prosthesis
May 1997, Fort Worth, TX, patient underwent a tram flap reconstruction
June 1997, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent back surgery
July 1997, Houston, TX, patient underwent breast reduction surgery
July 1997, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent breast surgery
August 1997, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent a mastectomy
October 1997, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent open-heart surgery
December 1997, Port Arthur, TX, patient underwent heart valve replacement surgery
January 1998, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent a hysterectomy
January 1998, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent an incisional hernia repair
March 1998, Houston, TX, patient underwent a colectomy
September 1998, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent brain surgery
September 1998, Port Arthur, TX, patient underwent breast surgery
September 1998, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent knee replacement surgery
October 1998, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent a hysterectomy & hernia surgery
January 1999, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent back surgery
February 1999, Beaumont, TX, patient underwent chest & leg surgery
January 2000, Houston, TX, patient underwent back surgery

UTAH

March 1994, Salt Lake City, UT, patient underwent hernia surgery
October 1994, St. George, UT, patient underwent removal of cyst on left wrist

VIRGINIA

December 1994, Norfolk, VA, patient underwent hernia repair surgery

WISCONSIN

August 1994, Racine, WI, patient underwent gallbladder surgery
November 1994, Neeah, WI, patient underwent an episiotomy repair

TMJ REALITY

POEM'S TELLING WHAT IT IS LIKE LIVING WITH TMJ!

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WHERE WOULD WE BE TODAY....

An angel on my shoulder
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He would never go away

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WE ARE ANGELS UNITED TOGETHER ON TMJ! TMJD_SAFE_HAVEN_4_LIFE_ISSUES · TMJ SUPPORT GROUP This TMJD Support Group is intended to be a Safe Haven and provide a place where people with TMJ pain can come and offer and receive support from people who know what they are going through. This is not a medical group and we do not have medical degrees or medical backgrounds. However, with the variety of members in here, there is bound to be someone who has been there and done that and can answer your questions. This group is in memory of Debbie Ward whom suffered from TMJD & died of unknown causes. There are many types of members with TMJD. Some have been treated medically, some treated with various splint therapies and physical therapies as well as some with surgical treatments ranging from Arthroscopy to full jaw joint replacements. Everyone with any degree of TMJD or has a family member that deals with it is welcome to join and offer and receive support that we all so badly need to get through each day with the pain we have to live with. It is YOUR place to cry, scream or vent on the pain you are dealing with and how it is affecting your life and the lives of your loved ones. The group is MODERATED to avoid the unsolicited advertisements and spam. We are all in pain and do not need to have to deal with that too. TMJ SURGERY FAMILY!. A Great Place to Share Information! This site is for sharing and is not a substitute for the advise of your physician/oral surgeon. Please consult with your health care professional.

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